Turner Cable Bets on New Additions

By

William Launder

Jan. 4, 2013 6:50 p.m. ET

PASADENA—Time Warner Inc.'s Turner cable-networks division is betting that the broadcast-network castoff "Cougar Town" and a reality show about "nerd" culture can help TBS lift its sagging ratings and become more of a destination for comedy fans.

TBS begins airing the fourth season of "Cougar Town," a Courteney Cox sitcom about wine-loving friends, later this month. While the show failed to gain traction on Walt Disney Co.'s ABC Network during its first three seasons, TBS believes that the...